By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Willamette University rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring five runs in the top of the eighth inning, and the Bearcats went on to defeat Whitman College, 6-3, in the winner's bracket game at the 2024 Northwest Conference Baseball Tournament on Saturday, May 11 at Borleske Stadium. Willamette's five-run outburst featured a three-run homer by Drew Baskin (Jr., SS, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) that put the Bearcats in front 4-2. The inning also was highlighted by Wyatt Thames (Jr., OF, Elk Grove, CA/Huntington Beach HS/Biola University), who stole home with two outs.
The Bearcats improved to 27-13 on the season. Whitman, which won the NWC regular season title, fell to 26-16. The Bearcats, seeded #2 in the four-team tournament, advanced into the NWC Championship game(s), set for Sunday, May 12.
"Our hitters did a good job of piecing together quality at bats throughout the game, which led to a big breakthrough in the eighth," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Mike Coduto said. "We knew we were going to have to grind out at bats against one of the best arms in the country to have a shot late in the game. We got a couple of guys on for Drew and he got a pitch he could handle and took advantage of it. On the pitching side, we did a good job of keeping them off balance and got some big plays when we needed them."
Whitman moved into an elimination game against Whitworth University on Saturday night. Whitworth defeated the Blues, 9-6, and will take on Willamette for the NWC title on Sunday. Whitworth will have to defeat the Bearcats twice to claim the championship. The Bearcats are currently undefeated in the double-elimination tournament. Game times will be 12 p.m. PDT and 3:30 p.m., if necessary.
Earlier on Saturday, Whitworth scored one run in the ninth inning to tie the game, and added one run in the bottom of the 10th, to defeat Pacific University, 11-10. The loss eliminated Pacific from the tournament with a 25-16 season record. Whitworth upped its record to 27-13.
In Willamette's comeback victory over Whitman, the Blues took a 2-0 with one run in the second inning and another run in the third stanza. The game's first run was scored by Brandon Ting, who belted a solo home run to lead off Whitman's half of the second. In the bottom of the third, AJ Romero scored an unearned run.
Julien Henderson, Whitman's top pitcher, held Willamette to three hits in the first seven innings. Two of the hits were singles by Tassos Foster (Sr., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) and Jeff Hoffman (Sr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) with two outs in the top of the fifth. Henderson stopped the threat by forcing an infield pop-up for the third out.
Foster also singled to start the eighth inning. His hit to right field was misplayed and Foster moved to second. Hoffman tacked on a single to center, allowing Foster to score. One out later, Carl Lawson (Sr., OF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) reached base as Hoffman was thrown out at second. Clint Walker (Grad., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) received a walk and then Baskin smacked a three-run homer to left field.
Billy Wall replaced Hernandez on the mound, and Thames hit an infield single to shortstop. Thames then went to second and third on a wild pickoff attempt. He stole home after a strike against the next batter. Thames headed for home when the catcher started to throw the ball to the pitcher, and slid across the plate just in front of the return throw, which eluded the catcher. Willamette led 5-2.
Whitman reduced the margin to 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth. Beck Maguire singled with one out and eventually scored with two outs on a double by Ting. With runners at second and third, Brady Joyner (Sr., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) entered the game to pitch for the Bearcats. He forced Halen Otte to fly out to center to end the inning.
In the top of the ninth, Joshua Murphy (Sr., C, Everett, WA/Cascade HS/Olympic College) walked, Foster doubled to right, and Hoffman was intentionally walked to load the bases. Two outs later, Walker was hit by a pitch, which forced Murphy across the plate.
Joyner recorded his sixth save of the season after facing just three batters in the bottom of the inning. Nate Korahais walked, but Mateus Conaway lined into a double play by Joyner and Hoffman. Nick Teng flied out to right field to end the game. Joyner extended his own Willamette record to 25 career saves.
Foster was 3 of 5 for the Bearcats with a double and a run. Hoffman went 2 of 4 with an RBI. Baskin's three-run homer was his fifth home run of the season. Maguire led Whitman with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate. Ting was 2 of 4 with a homer, a double, and two RBIs.
